Apparatus for electroplating pipes, rods, &amp;c.



N. H. RAYMOND.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING PIPES, RODS, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 15. I915.

1 ,21 8,802. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

N. H. RAYMOND.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING PIPES, RODS, 81 1 APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15. 1915.

1,21 8,802. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nve razor %rzeys N. H. RAYMOND.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING PIPES, RODS, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-15, 1915. 1,218,802. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Z-fiwvzezp? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELSON H. RAYMOND, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CLIFTON MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

Application filed September 15, 1915. Serial m. 50,748.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, NELSON H. RAYMOND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Electroplating Pipes, Rods, &c., of which. the fol: lowin is a specification.

ThlS invention relates to an apparatus for electroplating pipes, rods and similar articles and has the object to provide an improved apparatus of this character containin means for feeding the pipes automatica y step by step from the receiving end of 5 the electroplating tank to the dehvery end thereof and also to provide improved means for automatically feeding the unplated pipes or rods from a source of supply to the receiving end of the electroplating tank and to automatically remove one pipe or rod at a time from the delivery end of the electroplating tank to a receptacle or place of deposit.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of an electroplatin apparatus embodying my improvement, ta en on line 11, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof taken on line 2--2, Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical transverse sections taken on the correspondingl numbered lines in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a ragmentary perspective View of one of the transfer arms and its hook or finger forming part of the means 3; whereby the pipes or rods to be electroplated are introduced into and removed from the electroplating tank.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

1 represents the electroplating tank which is adapted to contain the electroplating solution and which may be constructed of any suitable material and form but is preferably closed at its sides, ends and bottom and open at the top. Within this tank are arranged my improved means for gradually moving the pipes or rods 2 which are to be electroplated from the front or receiving end to the rear or delivery end of this tank, so that such pipes or tubes may be introduced at intervals into the receiving end of the tank and also removed at intervals from the delivery end thereof and a number of such pipes or rods may be moved through the electroplating solution in the tank at the same time for electroplating the same durmgsuch movement. The preferred form of the means whereby this is accomplished and which are constructed in accordance with my mvention are shown in the drawings and, as there shown, the same are constructed as follows:

3, 3 represent a plurality of metal supportlng shafts, preferably twoin number, 66 which are arranged lengthwise and parallel in the electroplating tank and are also inclined, so that their front or receiving ends are elevated and their rear or delivery ends are depressed; These supporting shafts are 70 Journaled at their front and rear ends in suitable bearings 4, 5 arranged on the inner sides of the end walls of the electroplating tank and are preferably constructed of Wood.

The pipes or rods to be electroplated are placed in a crosswise position on the front or receiving ends of the supporting shafts and moved from their elevated front ends down to the depressed rear ends of the same during which movement .of these pipes or rods they are submerged in the electroplat ing solution and are provided With a coating which is deposited thereon electrically in any suitable and well known manner. .As

shown in the drawings, this is accomplished by connecting the supporting shafts by a wire 6 with one side of the source of electric energy and supporting a plurality of anodes 7 in the upper part of the elect'roplating solution and connecting the same by a Wire 8 with the opposite side of the electric generator. By this means the metal pipes or rods rest upon the metal supporting shafts and receive an electroplated coating as they move downwardly through the solution in contact with the supporting shafts. The movement of the pi es or rods which are to be electroplated is e ected by gravity from the upper to the lower ends of the supporting shafts but this movement is interrupted at intervals so as to cause these pipes or rods to move with a step-by-step or intermittent action and thereby prolong the time of submergence of these pipes in the solution, the length of this time being so determined that when the pipes have completed their passage from the front to the rear ends of the supportin shafts they will be sufficiently electroplate The preferred 110 means for accomplishing this purpose, shown in the drawings, are so constructed that they operate in the manner of a clock escapement by providing each of the shafts with a longitudinal row of stop pins 9, the pins of each shaft being so arranged that they are staggered and form two sets, the pins of one set being preferably so arranged that they project laterally along one longitudinal line on the respective supporting shaft while the pins of the other set projectlaterally from the shaft along another longitudinal line thereon. These two sets of pins are preferably arranged on adjacent quarters of this shaft, as shown in Figs. 1-l, and the two supporting shafts are preferably turned or rocked simultaneously so that at one time one pair of corresponding sets of stop pins of these shafts project up wardly therefrom and serve to arrest the pipes or tubes which are resting on these shafts, while the other corresponding sets of stop pins of these shafts project horizontally from these shafts and do not obstruct the path of the pipes or tubes which are being electroplated. Upon turning the supporting shafts so that the previously inoperative pins are elevated into the path of the pipes or tubes and the previously operative pins thereof are lowered out of the path of said pipes or tubes each one of the latter is permitted to escape from the pair of pins by which the same was just held against downward movement and moves by gravity toward the lower ends of these shafts until it engages with the next pair of pins of the supporting shafts which are now in their operative position. Upon again rocking the supporting shafts the pipes are again released from the respective stop pins and permitted to engage with the next following stop pins, this operation being repeated for each turn or rocking movement of the shafts, so that the pipes to be plated are slowly advanced or fed through the tank. The means whereby the two supporting shafts are caused to move in unison may be varied but this is preferably accomplished by providing the lower or rear ends of the same with upwardly projecting rock arms 10, 10 which are connected by a rod 11, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The motion for operating these supporting shafts may also be derived from any suitable source and transmitted thereto in any suitable manner, for instance, by the means which are shown in the drawings and which comprise a pivot stud 12- arranged in the main frame of the machine, and a rock arm 13 which is pivoted on the stud 12 and connected by a rod 14 with a rock arm 15 on one of the pipe supporting shafts. Arranged horizontally and transversely over the central part of the electroplating tank and journaled in suitable bearings is an intermediate or counter shaft 11.), which is provided with a crank arm 17 connected by a rod 18 with an arm .19 connected with the arm 13, so as to form an elbow lcvrr with'tlie latter. 2O represents the main driving shaft which is arranged above the electroplating tank and from which motion is transmitted to the intermediate'shaft 16 by means of a belt 21 passing around a driving pulley 50 on the main shaft and a driven pulley 22 on the intermediate shaft.

As the pipes or rods to be plated move progressively from the elevated upper to the depressed lower ends of the supporting shafts the same are pushed intermittently in opposite directions lengthwise of the axis of these pipes for the purpose of causing different parts of the same to engage with their undersides against the top of the supporting shafts and thereby not only insure uniform electroplating of these pipes but also improving the metallic contact of these pipes with the supporting shafts. The preferred means whereby this is accomplished are shown in the drawings and, as there shown, the same are constructed as follows:

23, 23 represent two shifting plates which are arranged lengthwise along opposite sides of the path of the pipes or rods to be electroplated as they pass down these supporting shafts. The shifting plates are so mounted that they are alternately moved in a direction transversely of the path of these pipes so as to alternately engage opposite ends thereof and thereby shift them successively in opposite directions on these supporting shafts. For this purpose these shifting plates are preferably supported on the upper ends of supporting rock arms 24 which are mounted on longitudinal shifting rock shafts 25 journaled in suitable bear ings within the electroplating tank. These shifting rock shafts are preferably caused to rock in unison, the means for this purpose shown in the drawings consisting of a rod 26 connecting two actuating arms 27 27 depending from the rock shafts 25. These shafts may also be operated in various ways, for instance, by means of a rotating shaft 28 journaled in suitable bearings on the frame of the machine and provided with a pulley 29 which receives a driving belt 80 and also is provided with a crank arm 81 which is connected by means of a rod 32 with an upward extension 33 on one of the supporting rock arms 24, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. In addition to serving as means for shifting the pipes to be electroplated on the supporting shafts, these shifting plates, by reason of their being submerged in the electroplating solution, also operate to agitate the solution and keep the ingredients thereof thoroughly mixed so as to insure uniform electroplating of the pipes or rods.

If desired, the pipes or rods to be electroplated. 35 represents a receiving tank con-' taining water or other liquid and adapted to receive the pipes after the same have been electroplated. These supplying and receiving tanks are arranged adjacent to-the front and rear ends in the electroplating tank, as

shown in Figs. land .2. The pipes in thesupply tank are preferably supportedtherein on two lower supply guide rails or bars 36 which incline rearwardly and are provided at their lower or depressed ends with successive transfer of each pipe from the front'end ofthe supply guide rails to the recelvmg guide rails is preferably" eflected by means which comprise two upright loading transfer arms 42 which are provided at their lower ends with' forwardly and upwardly projecting hooks or fingers 143. These transfer arms are so actuated that 'they first move with their hooks downwardly in rear of the rearmost pipe on the guide rails, then.moved forwardly and upwardly so that their lifting hooks engage e with the rearmost pipe on the su l ui rails and pick this pipe ofl of s id i 'ails, then these transfer arms with a pipe supported 1n the hooks thereof passes upwardly, rearwardly and downwardly past the receiving rails or bars of the electroplating tank. During the last part of this rearward and downward movement of these hooks the latter deposit the pipe carried stop fingers 37 which are engaged by the.

rearmost pipe of the lot resting upon the guide rails, thereby holding these pipes on these rails but permitting the same to move rearwardly thereon by gravity, so that each pipe in turn is arranged rearmost and when lifted from the guide rails is replaced by the next following pipe moving rearwardly by gravity into engagement with the stop fingers. Above the pipes on the guide rails are arranged two guide bars 38 each of which has an inclined lower part arranged over the path of the pipes and terminating short of the stop finger 37 of the adjacent guide rail, and an upright upper part which is secured to a cross bar 39 on the supply tank at a distance from the front wall of this tank, so .as to form a passageway between the front ends of the guide rails and the guard bars through which the pipes are passed when taken from the cleaning apparatus. and depositing the same upon the guide rails.

At intervals the rearmost pipe on the guide rails is picked up and lifted from the guide rails and carried upwardly and rearwardly over the rear wall of the supply tank and then lowered down on a pair of receiving guide rails or bars 40 which are arranged over the elevated front parts of the supporting shafts in the electroplating tank. These last-mentioned, guide rails incline from their elevated rear ends downwardly toward their depressed front ends and are secured at the last-mentioned ends to a transverse bar 41 which is mounted on the side walls of the electroplating tank at a distance from the front end wall thereof so that a pipe or roddeposited upon the receiving guide rails 40 will move forwardly down the same by gravity and drop from the front ends thereof upon the front or receiving ends of the supporting shafts. This thereby upon the receiving rails 40 and then.

the hooks disengage themselves from the respective pipe by their continued downward movement after the pipe rests upon said rails, whereby this pipe is stripped -or disengaged from the transfer hooks and is caused to-roll'forwardly down said rails to the supporting shafts in tank.

Various means may be provided for imparting motion to the transfer arms for accomplishing this purpose but the means which are shown in the drawings are suitthe electroplating able and comprise a horizontal crank shaft 44 journaled transversely-in suitable bearings on the upper front part of the machine and provided with crank arms 45 with which the upper ends of the loading transfer arms are'pivotally connected, and two connecting rods 46 which connect the intermediate parts of the load transfer arms with the crank arms 17 and 47 on the intermediate shaft 16. In order to cause the transfer arms to rise and fall twice during each cycle of operations, once upon entering the supply tank and again when enter-.

ing the electroplating tank in passing from one tank to the other, means are provided for causing the crank shaft 44 to make two turns during each rotation of the intermediate shaft 16, this being preferably accomplished by means of a chain belt 48 passing around a comparatively large spreacket wheel 49 on the intermediate shaft and around a small sprocketwheel 51 which is mounted on the crank shaft 44 and is half as large in diameter as the sprocket wheel 49 hooks to be effected somewhat faster than the vertical movement thereof in order to expedite the operation of the machine and for this purpose the driven pulley 22 on the intermediate shaft 16 which receives motion through the medium of the belt 21 from the driving pulley 50 is made of elliptical form, the major and minor axes of this elliptical pulley being so arranged that a comparatively rapid movement of the loading transfer arms and hooks occurs while moving horizontally relatively to the supply tank and electroplating tank but slowly while effecting the vertical motion relatively to these tanks.

When the pulley 22 is turned so that its major aXiS is arranged horizontally the lower turn of the belt 21 is raised and spread, but when this pulley has its major axis arranged vertically the lower turn of this belt is depressed and contracted, thereby keeping this belt taut at all times.

Mechanism is employed for removing or unloading one finished pipe or rod at a time from the electroplating tank and depositing the same in the receiving tank which mechanism is constructed substantially like the means for feeding or loading the unplated pipes from the supply tank into the electroplating tank. This discharging or unloading device is best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 and is constructed as follows;

53, 53 represent two inclined delivery rails or bars which are arranged lengthwise within the receiving tank so that their front ends are elevated and their rear ends depressed and thereby cause the pipes deposited transversely thereon to move from the front to the rear ends of these guide rails. Above the elevated front ends of the delivery rails 53 are arranged two unloading'guide bars 54 which are inclined lengthwise of the receiving tank so that their front ends are depressed and their rear ends elevated, the front ends of these bars being Separated by an intervening space from the opposing front wall of the receiving tank and also from the elevated front ends 'ofthe receiving guide rails at which point these delivery guide rails or bars are secured to a transverse supporting bar 55 secured to the side walls of the receivingtank. 56 represents two upright unloading transfer arms which are arranged side by side and each of which is provided at its lower end with a forwardly and upwardly projecting hook or finger 57. At their upper ends these unloading transfer arms are connected with cranks 58 which are mounted on a horizontal shaft 59 journaled transversely in suitable hearings on the adjacent part of the frame of the machine. Between their upper and lower ends the unloading transfer arms are connected with the corresponding parts of the loading transfer arms by means of links 60 for causing the two pairs of transfer arms to move horizontally in unison. The cranks 58 of the unloading transfer arms are set parallel with the cranks 45 of theloading transfer arms, and the unloading crank shaft 59 is rotated at the same rate as the loading crank shaft 44 by means of a chain belt 61 passing around a driving sprocket wheel 62 on the intermediate shaft 16 and a driven sprocket pinion 63 on the unloading crank shaft, said pinion being one half as large as the driving sprocket wheel, thereby causing the several transfer arms to rise and fall in unison.

During the operation of the machine, the unloading transfer arms and their hooks move through the same path as that indicated with reference to the loading transfer arms and hooks, during which movement the unloading hooks pass downwardly in the rear part of the electroplating tank and then forwardly and upwardly, so that these hooks lift the rearmost pipe from the supporting shafts, then these hooks move rearwardly and downwardly together with the pipe past the unloading guide rails or bars 54:, whereby the respective pipe becomes disengaged from the unloading hooks and then rolls down these rails to the delivery guide bars 53, then the unloading hooks are again raised out of the receiving tank, and then moved forwardly and downwardly into the rear end of the electroplating tank preparatory to engaging the next pipe which in the meantime has been advanced to the rearmost position on the supporting shaft.

Inasmuch as the unloading crank shaft 59 is driven from the intermediate shaft 16, which latter is driven by means comprising the elliptical pulley 22, a slow vertical motion is imparted to the unloading hooks during the time that they are engaged with and disengaged from the respective pipe, but a comparatively fast horizontal movement is imparted thereto for quickening the action of the machine.

Those parts of the shafts 3 which are not engaged by the pipes 2 may be protected against the electrolyte in any suitable manner, for instance by a coating of wax, so that the same will not become electroplated.

, In its entirety this machine is comparatively simple in construction considering the functions which it performs, there are no delicate parts which are liable to get out of order, and the same permits of expeditiously electroplating pipes uniformly and thoroughly with a minimum expenditure of power and attention on the part of the operator.

' I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus for electroplating pipes or rods, comprising a tank adapted to hold an electroplating solution, and an inclined support which is arranged in said tank and upon which said pipes or rods are adapted to move from the upper end to the lower end thereof and means for shifting said pipes or rods transversely at intervals on said support.

an electroplating Solution, an inclined shaft which is arranged in said tank and on the upper side of which the pipes or rods to be plated are adapted to move from the elevated end toward the depressed end of the shaft, means for turning said shaft, means for temporarily arresting the movement of said pipes or rods at intervals on said shaft, and means for shifting said pipes or rods transversely at intervals on said shaft.

3. An apparatus for electroplating pipes or rods comprising a tank adapted to hold an electroplating solution, two inclined shafts which are arranged in said tank and on which the pipes or rods to be plated are adapted to slide downwardly by gravity from the upper to the lower ends of said shafts and in aposition crosswise of the latter, means for controlling the movement of said pipes along said shafts, and means for shifting said pipes at intervals transversely on said shafts, comprising shifting plates arranged lengthwise along opposite sides of the path of the pipes, and rock arms on which said plates are mounted.

-l. An apparatus for electroplating pipes or rods, comprising a tank adapted to hold an electroplating solution, two /inclined shafts which are arranged in said tank and on which the pipes or rods to be plated are adapted to slide downwardly by gravity from the upper to the lower ends of said shafts and in a positioncrosswise of the latter, means for controlling the movement of said pipes along said shafts, means for shifting said pipes at intervals transversely on said shafts, comprising shifting plates arranged lengthwise along opposite sides of the path of the pipes, rock arms on which said plates are mounted, shiftingrock shafts supporting said arms, and means for operating said shifting plates comprising operating rock arms arranged on said shifting rock shafts, and a link connecting said operating rock shafts.

5. An apparatus for electroplating pipes and rods, comprising a tank adapted to hold an electroplating solution, an inclined sup port for the pipes within the tank, and guide bars which are arranged above'the elevated ends of said support and inclined in an opposite direction and which receive said pipes and direct, the same to said support.

6. An apparatus for electroplating pipes or rods, comprising two tanks arranged adjacent to each other, and meansfor-transferring said pipes from one tank to another comprising supports for said pipes in said tanks, transfer arms having hooks, and

An apparatus for electroplating pipes or rods, comprising a tank adapted to holdactuating means for moving said arms and hooks horizontally back and-forth from one tank to another and also vertically alternately in said tanks for engaging the hooks with the pipes in one tank and lifting the same therefrom and then depositing the same on the support'of the other tank and disengaging the hooks fromsaid pipes.

7. An apparatus for electroplating pipes or rods, comprising two tanks arranged adacent to each other, and means for'transfer-ring said pipes from one tank to another comprising supports for said pipes in said tanks, transfer arms having hooks, and actuatmg means for moving said arms and hooks horizontally back and forth from one tank to another and also vertically alternately insaid tanks for engaging the hooks with the pipes 1n one tank and lifting the same therefrom and then depositing the same on the support of the other tank and disengaging the hooks from said pipes, said actuating means comprising crank arms connected with said transfer arms, rods connected with the'transfer arms between the ends thereof,

and crank arms connected with said rods.

'8. An apparatus for electroplating pipes or rods, comprising two tanks arranged ada'cent to each other, and means for transferring said pipes from one tank to another comprlsmg supports for said pipes in said tanks, transfer arms havin hooks, and actuating means for moving said arms and hooks horizontally back and forth from one tank v crank shaft on which said horizontally actuating crank arms are mounted, and means for rotating said horizontally actuating crank shaft once for every two rotations of said vertically actuating crank shaft.

9. An apparatus for electroplating pipes or rods, comprising two tanks arranged adjacent to each other, and means for transfer ring said pipes from one tank to another comprising supports for said pipes in said tanks, transfer arms having hooks, and actuating means for moving said arms and hooks horizontally back and forth from one tank 2 to another and also vertically alternately in said tanks for engaging the hooks with the pipes in one tank and lifting the same therefrom and then depositing the same on the support of the other tank and disengagcrank, arms connected with said transfer arms, a vertically actuating crank shaft on which said lifting crank arms aremounted, shifting rods connected with said transfer arms, horizontally actuating crank arms connected with said rods, a horizontally actuating crank shaft on which said horizontally actuating crank arms are mounted, and means for rotating said horizontally actuating crank shaft once for every two rotations of said vertically actuating crank shaft, comprising a belt passing around a wheel 11. An apparatus for electroplating pipes or rods, comprising two tanks arranged adjacent to each other, and means for transferring said pipes from one tank to another compnsing supports for said pipes in said tanks, transfer arms having hooks and actuating means for moving said arms and hooks horizontally back and forth from one tank to another and also, vertically alternately in said tanks for engaging the hooks with the on said horizontally actuating crank shaft\ pipes in one tank and lifting th same th and a wheel on the vertically actuating crank shaft which is one-half the diameter of the wheel on the horizontally actuating crank shaft.

10. An apparatus for electroplating pipes or rods, comprising two tanks arranged adjacent to each other, and means for transferring said pipes from one tank to another comprising supports for said pipes in said tanks, transfer arms having hooks, and actuating means for moving said arms and hooks horizontally back and forth from one tank to another and also vertically alternately in said tanks for engaging the hooks with the pipes in one tank and lifting the same therefrom and then depositing the same on the support of the other tank and disengaging the hooks from said pipes, said actuating'means comprising vertically actuating crank arms connected with said transfer arms, a vertically actuating crank shaft on which said lifting crank arms are mount ed, shifting rods connected with said transfer arms, horizontally actuating crank arms connected with said rods, a horizontally actuating crank shaft on which said horizontally actuating crank arms are mounted, means for rotating said horizontally actuating crank shaft once for every two rotafrom and then depositing the same on the support of the other tank and disengaging the hooks from said pipes, said actuating means comprising vertically actuating crank arms connected with said transfer arms, a vertically actuating crank shaft on which said lifting crank arms are mounted, shifting rods connected with said transfer arms, horizontally actuating crank arms connected with said rods, a horizontally actuating crank shaft on which said horizontally actuating crank arms are mounted, means for rotating said horizontally'actuating crank shaft once for every two rotations of said,

vertically actuating crank shaft, comprising a belt passing around a wheel on said horizontally actuating crank shaft and a wheel on the vertically actuating crank shaft whichvis one half the diameter of the wheel on the horizontally actuating crank shaft, and means for causing said transfer arms and hooks to move fast horizontally and slow vertically comprising an elliptical pulley mounted on said horizontally actuating crank shaft, a driving pulley, and a belt passing around said driving pulley and said elliptical pulley.

NELSON H. RAYMOND. 

